Cox signs nine newcomers for Tech's cross country, track teams

Aug 22, 2008

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech cross country and track &
field coach Tony Cox has announced the addition of nine
student-athletes to his team rosters, inking three runners to the
men's squad and six on the women's. The three new men's team
members are Daniel Francis of Morganton, N.C., Brian Kennedy from
Ashland City, Tenn., and Ethan McGroom from Oak Ridge.

"I think we had a good recruiting year, and the new people coming
in will certainly be able to step in and help our teams
immediately," Cox said. "We recruited from several different areas
this year, including Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee and South
Carolina. I think they saw the quality of the school and that was
one of the key reasons they decided to come here."

Daniel Francis is the son of Noel and Beth Francis of Morganton,
N.C., and a June graduate of Freedom High School where he received
a total of 10 letters in three sports. In addition to his four
letters in cross country, he also claimed three in track &
field and three in swimming. Francis plans to major in electrical
engineering.

Brian Kennedy is the son of John and Sharon Kennedy of Ashland
City, and plans to major in business and world cultures. He is a
May graduate of Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville.
Kennedy also lettered in both cross country and swimming during his
prep career.

Ethan McGroom comes to the Golden Eagles after a May graduation
from Oak Ridge High School, and plans to major in web design. The
son of San and Sam McGroom, he lettered four times in cross
country, three in track and once in soccer. He was part of four
regional championships and three TSSAA state titles.

The six women's signees include three sprinters and three middle
distance runners.

Mary Beth Dyer is also a middle distance runner, earning letters in
both track and cross country at Rhea County High School. The
daughter of Michael and Martha Dyer, she plans to study early
childhood education. She was a record-setter and qualifier for the
TSSAA state meet in the relays.

Miranda Hinds comes to Tech from Jamestown, Tenn., as a graduate
student after earnig her degree in business from Middle Tennessee
State. A distance runner, she competed in several different events
during her prep career at York Institute but did not compete
intercollegiately while at MTSU. She is the daughter of Connie and
Anthony Roberts and will pursue her MBA.

Traci Jones is a middle distance runner and the daughter of Mike
and Lisa Dixon. A June graduate of South Aiken (S.C.) High School,
she lettered in cross country, track and soccer and earned
all-state honors while helping to win two region titles in cross
country and two more in track. She plans to major in biology.

Jenna Philpot is the daughter of Darin and Shelba Philpott of
Manchester, Tenn., and a May graduate of Coffee County High School.
She plans to study nursing. In addition to four letters in
basketball and two in volleyball, she earned four letters in track
and field while competing in the long jump, triple jump,
pentathlon, 400m and relays.

Amber Vandyken is a freshman from Dunlap, Tenn., and a recent
graduate of Sequatchie County High School where she worked with
assistant coach Melissa Williams, a former Golden Eagle runner. The
daughter of Kimberly and Michael Vandyken, she plans to study
elementary education while competing in the sprints, jumps and
relays.

Emily Weinzetl is the daughter of Scott and Kristi Weinzetl of San
Antonio, and was a sprinter at Ronald Reagan High School. She also
lettered two years in basketball. She plans to study
English-journalism while competing in the 100m, 200m, 400m, long
jump and triple jump.